Chef's Kitchen

This Arlington family hired Feinmann to transform the small, dark, outdated kitchen in their beautiful 1870s Victorian home. The homeowners (one of them is a chef and both love to cook) asked the design team to create a sleek, modern chef’s kitchen – complete with high end cabinetry and professional grade equipment – and do it in such a way that the contemporary kitchen would be harmonious with the rest of the home’s more traditional aesthetic.
The new kitchen is light, spacious, and highly functional, with generous windows and ample counter space. The design highlights the stainless steel and glossy blue Arclinea cabinetry. Two stainless steel workstations topped with white Carrera marble float in the center of the kitchen, making a dramatic design statement. One island contains a sink, stove, and hood, and the other a larger sink and work surface. The stainless steel cabinets are visually anchored to the space by a dropped ceiling panel. The cabinets along the wall include a glossy blue Arclinea cabinet that is nine feet long and contains refrigerator units and tall storage.
The new design peeks through horizontal windows that visually connect the interior and exterior, and a skylighted spine through the kitchen further links the house to the garden. Recessed lights and pendant lights work in combination with generous windows and doors to create a bright and user-friendly space. Other creative ideas include a blackboard embedded within a long pantry unit, and a tall six shelf bookcase (with a library ladder) that houses the homeowners’ cookbook collection.
Homeowner quote:
"This kitchen is exactly what I wanted. We had so many brainstorming sessions that before it was built, I already knew where I would store everything. I especially like the library ladder which makes every inch of this room functional."
Awards:
• Eastern Massachusetts CONTRACTOR OF THE YEAR AWARD—Best kitchen over $100,000.
• CHRYSALIS AWARD—Best kitchen remodel over $100,000.
• LUXURY LIVING AWARDS—Platinum Award—best kitchen design—Best In Show Award
• 2005 BEST OF THE BEST Northeast Design Award—Kitchen Transformation
• 2005 PRISM GOLD AWARD—Best Kitchen over $250,000